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consulate in benghazi, libya. president obama has ordered that flags fly at half staff across the united states and at embassies around the world until sunday night. >>> i'm wolf blitzer in for piers morgan. earlier today the republican challenger, mitt romney, blasted president obama for what he characterized as, quote, an apology for america's values over the storming of the u.s. embassy in cairo. >> an apology for america's values is never the right course. >> the president fired right back in an interview tonight with cbs news. >> governor romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and name later, and as president, one of the things i've learned is you can't do that. you know, it's important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts and that you've thought through the ramifications before you make them. >> and there are late-breaking developments right now. two u.s. navy warships of moving toward the coast of libya and 50 marines are on the ground in tripoli right no
consulate in benghazi, libya. president obama has ordered that flags fly at half staff across the united states and at embassies around the world until sunday night. >>> i'm wolf blitzer in for piers morgan. earlier today the republican challenger, mitt romney, blasted president obama for what he characterized as, quote, an apology for america's values over the storming of the u.s. embassy in cairo. >> an apology for america's values is never the right course. >> the...
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Sep 22, 2012
09/12
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arwa damon has more now from benghazi. >> reporter: the revolution began in benghazi and now it's starting once again in benghazi to evict these extremist militias. he was just telling us is that the people inside, they believe must have heard that the pro-democracy demonstrators were coming because by the time they arrived, they found no one. they were able to go in and take control. we are seeing the pro-democracy people of benghazi literally reclaiming their city from the extremist militias. there was an initial sense of euphoria, people saying that this is the real libya, cleansed of extremists by its own people. but the situation quickly turned sinister. >> we have five left. >> be careful. >> bottom of the road there. >> there. >> over on the left-hand side. >> reporter: there is gun fire. this is the second location. just on the other side of this wall is the second location that we are told is being struck tonight, but contrary to what we witnessed at the first place, here there seems to be something of a gun battle going on. we are hearing sporadic gun fire as well as other small
arwa damon has more now from benghazi. >> reporter: the revolution began in benghazi and now it's starting once again in benghazi to evict these extremist militias. he was just telling us is that the people inside, they believe must have heard that the pro-democracy demonstrators were coming because by the time they arrived, they found no one. they were able to go in and take control. we are seeing the pro-democracy people of benghazi literally reclaiming their city from the extremist...
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Sep 15, 2012
09/12
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consulate in benghazi returned to the andrews air force base this afternoon. president obama was there and he vowed to bring justice to the men who killed them. >> even as voices of suspicious and mistrust that seek to devid countries and cultures, the united states of america will never retreat from the world. >> four people have been arrested in libya what were on the scene of the attack, but the government says they are not linked to the murders. that investigation continues and we have a live report on that now. arwa damon is with me from benghazi tonight and i know you had a chance to go to the consulate there. what did you see? >> reporter: it was really quite chilling, horrifying to be walking through some of the buildings there just imagining what had transpired, taken place. they were all burnt. there was black soot covering the walls. ashes over some of the furniture, the chandeliers. there was debris all over the floor. looters also had moved in after the attack took place pillaging this compound that even after the assault was not really secured bu
consulate in benghazi returned to the andrews air force base this afternoon. president obama was there and he vowed to bring justice to the men who killed them. >> even as voices of suspicious and mistrust that seek to devid countries and cultures, the united states of america will never retreat from the world. >> four people have been arrested in libya what were on the scene of the attack, but the government says they are not linked to the murders. that investigation continues and...
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Sep 22, 2012
09/12
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and of course, how easily manipulated. >> arwa damon in benghazi, be careful. fran, thank you very much. on wednesday we reported that a source familiar with ambassador stevens' thinking said in the months before his death, ambassador stevens talked about being worried about what he called the never-ending security threats in benghazi. we also reported that the ambassador specifically mentioned the rise in islamic extremism, the growing al qaeda presence in libya and said he was on an al qaeda hit list. the information for that report like all of cnn's reporting was carefully vetted. some of that information was found in a personal journal of ambassador stevens in his handwriting. we came upon the journal through our reporting and notified the family. at their request, we returned that journal to them. we reported what we found newsworthy in the ambassador's writings. a reporter followed up on what we found newsworthy in the ambassador's writings. let us know what you think. we're on facebook, follow me on twitter. i'm tweeting tonight. >>> up next, the attack'
and of course, how easily manipulated. >> arwa damon in benghazi, be careful. fran, thank you very much. on wednesday we reported that a source familiar with ambassador stevens' thinking said in the months before his death, ambassador stevens talked about being worried about what he called the never-ending security threats in benghazi. we also reported that the ambassador specifically mentioned the rise in islamic extremism, the growing al qaeda presence in libya and said he was on an al...
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Sep 27, 2012
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no mention of being on the ground in benghazi. you are saying they haven't been on the ground in benghazi according to your sources here. is she splitting hairs here? >> in fairness to the secretary, it may be she wanted to be coy about where in libya they were for security concerns. that would be understandable. but the fact is it is not clear they have even been inside of libya for very long. they had difficulty and we understand some bureaucratic infighting between the fbi and justice department on the one hand and the state department on the other. it took longer to get in the country. they have now gotten there but are still unable to get permission to go to benghazi. >> bob baer, you've been involved in a number of aftermath investigations. have you ever heard of anything like this. where whether it is bureaucratic infighting where they are not allowed in a crime scene or have you heard of anything like this? >> i've never heard of it, anderson. this is just outrageous. in the sense that libya is obviously on the edge, but i
no mention of being on the ground in benghazi. you are saying they haven't been on the ground in benghazi according to your sources here. is she splitting hairs here? >> in fairness to the secretary, it may be she wanted to be coy about where in libya they were for security concerns. that would be understandable. but the fact is it is not clear they have even been inside of libya for very long. they had difficulty and we understand some bureaucratic infighting between the fbi and justice...
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Sep 13, 2012
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the attack in benghazi, libya. what more are we learning about the attacks and the measures the state department is trying to take to ensure the safety of its personnel left in benghazi, tripoli, and elsewhere? >> you have a couple of things, anderson. what they're trying to do is make sure the security of the people who are left, and that's only in tripoli, not in benghazi, is assured, so they're sending some marines. it's kind of like a quick reaction for us to the embassy in tripoli to beef that up. they're also notifying troops around the world that potentially they could be used in various ways to ensure the security of american personnel and then, of course, as you mentioned, you've got the destroyers. this would be the destroyers and the drones would be used more, let's say, if the president determined that it was a time to strike against whoever was the group that carried out this attack. >> and we'll have a look back at the life of the ambassador, a remarkable career. and we're also going to talk to senato
the attack in benghazi, libya. what more are we learning about the attacks and the measures the state department is trying to take to ensure the safety of its personnel left in benghazi, tripoli, and elsewhere? >> you have a couple of things, anderson. what they're trying to do is make sure the security of the people who are left, and that's only in tripoli, not in benghazi, is assured, so they're sending some marines. it's kind of like a quick reaction for us to the embassy in tripoli to...
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Sep 25, 2012
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personnel in benghazi. we've got a lot to talk about tonight with former homeland security adviser fran towsend. as we often mention, fran's a member of the external advisory committee, and recently visited libya with her employer. also joining us, former cia officer bob baer. i don't want to get into the journalistic details with you, but there's no doubt, what do you make of the fact that this consulate in benghazi three days after the attack apparently wasn't being guarded and journalists are wandering all over the place, and anybody could have been wandering all over the place. >> anderson, lost in the dispute over the journal is the fact that this calls into question the integrity of what is now an fbi investigation. one of the first thing law enforcement officers do when they begin an investigation is secure the crime scene. first and foremost, this is the consulate. now, they were going to have challenges to that. the fbi couldn't get in because of security conditions. u.s. personnel, nonessential pe
personnel in benghazi. we've got a lot to talk about tonight with former homeland security adviser fran towsend. as we often mention, fran's a member of the external advisory committee, and recently visited libya with her employer. also joining us, former cia officer bob baer. i don't want to get into the journalistic details with you, but there's no doubt, what do you make of the fact that this consulate in benghazi three days after the attack apparently wasn't being guarded and journalists...
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Sep 24, 2012
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intelligence officials still in benghazi. but you've got an intelligence service in this new government -- you don't really have a fully productive partner. those two things together do make it very challenging. but we have to be clear. there will continue to be network of informants, surveillance, whether it's technical signals intelligence. they will continue to collect against the intelligence requirements. they just have -- they're going to be certainly more challenged. >> fran, i have more questions but i want to get to this right now. a war between israel and iran, is it imminent? cnn's piers morgan put that question directly to one man who could determine whether current tension over iran's nuclear program escalates into something far more serious and deadly. listen to this part of piers' interview with the iranian president, mahmoud ahmadinejad. >> if israel does launch a strike against your country, what will your response be? >> translator: the response of iran is quite clear. i don't even need to explain that. any
intelligence officials still in benghazi. but you've got an intelligence service in this new government -- you don't really have a fully productive partner. those two things together do make it very challenging. but we have to be clear. there will continue to be network of informants, surveillance, whether it's technical signals intelligence. they will continue to collect against the intelligence requirements. they just have -- they're going to be certainly more challenged. >> fran, i...
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Sep 20, 2012
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have given him more security, particularly in benghazi. as you know, that country is divided very badly, and there's significant competition, and there's far more islamic influence in that part of libya than in tripoli. >> previously as you mention, people from the obama administration said they felt this was not a planned attack, sort of an offshoot of this video. but the director of the counterterrorism center said that it did appear to be a terrorist attack. he didn't say whether it was preplan or not but it definitely goes beyond what we heard before. how significant do you think that is? >> i think it is significant that the president's spokesperson would go on our networks and tell people things that are absolutely false and, by the way, fly in the face of the facts. i think maybe the american people are owed an apology. but the most important thing is that we have to understand that this video was not the cause of it. the cause of it was islamists who use these videos in order to inflame these people in order to attack america. ande
have given him more security, particularly in benghazi. as you know, that country is divided very badly, and there's significant competition, and there's far more islamic influence in that part of libya than in tripoli. >> previously as you mention, people from the obama administration said they felt this was not a planned attack, sort of an offshoot of this video. but the director of the counterterrorism center said that it did appear to be a terrorist attack. he didn't say whether it...
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Sep 12, 2012
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consulate in benghazi, libya. can you update us? >> it's my understanding there were nearly two dozen armed individuals that coordinated explosions and other things. this is the same site that was attacked with an ied about a month or so ago. very, very concerning, and it's concerning that this is a repeat target for them and that this may have been more successful because of the large scale of it. so it's, again, very, very concerning. we have seen al qaeda elements in libya spring up, as we have seen in tunisia, as well. all of that is concerning. we still don't know for certain yet, as i speak to you today or tonight, who is responsible and who's claimed responsibility. so those details are still unfolding. >> it is a coincidence or not that this is the anniversary of 9/11? and we see not only what's going on in libya, but they were attacking the u.s. embassy in cairo, as well on this day. is there a connection here? >> well, from what i have been led to believe as i stand here, there's no connection yet identified after the coor
consulate in benghazi, libya. can you update us? >> it's my understanding there were nearly two dozen armed individuals that coordinated explosions and other things. this is the same site that was attacked with an ied about a month or so ago. very, very concerning, and it's concerning that this is a repeat target for them and that this may have been more successful because of the large scale of it. so it's, again, very, very concerning. we have seen al qaeda elements in libya spring up,...
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Sep 29, 2012
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now, what will they gain by going to benghazi and taking the security risk. they may decide not to go at all. >> so just to be clear, we're not sure at this point where the breakdown occurred in terms of who -- i mean, whether it was the libyans, whether it was -- or state department, we don't know where the breakdown occurred. >> no, that's right. anderson, it could have been something as simple as this sort of -- when the interagency discussion, the u.s. government writ large decided that if that's what you're required for your perimeter security, that indicated itself it was too dangerous and that they shouldn't be bothered, they shouldn't go at all. it's not even clear to us yet whether or not this request was put to the libyan government. >> fran, you say not only fbi investigators not gone to benghazi yet, but that some are not even in libya. >> that's right. anderson, whenever there's an international terrorism investigation, there's a protocol where fbi agents with palletized cargo and equipment predeploy in the region to get closer. in this case, tha
now, what will they gain by going to benghazi and taking the security risk. they may decide not to go at all. >> so just to be clear, we're not sure at this point where the breakdown occurred in terms of who -- i mean, whether it was the libyans, whether it was -- or state department, we don't know where the breakdown occurred. >> no, that's right. anderson, it could have been something as simple as this sort of -- when the interagency discussion, the u.s. government writ large...
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Sep 15, 2012
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>> given the circumstances in benghazi, wolf, probably not. probably because there had been similar attacks on the british ambassador's convoy, there had been an infiltration of islamic extremists from the southern part of libya, there had been a series of attacks near the airport. so there's no doubt that chris was well aware at the time that benghazi was less than a secure city. >> what do you think caused this attack? was it simply that anti-islamic film or is there something much bigger here that explains this hatred of the united states? >> well, with respect to libya, i don't think it has to do with hatred of the united states. the islam terrorist groups, could have been gadhafi dead enders who have been plotting to destabilize the government. across the rest of the region, there's clearly a permeation of anti-and the struggle between the muslim brotherhood. >> egypt is much more important. i assume you like a lot of others are deeply disappointed that the newly elected president was so shy at least at the beginning in condemning the att
>> given the circumstances in benghazi, wolf, probably not. probably because there had been similar attacks on the british ambassador's convoy, there had been an infiltration of islamic extremists from the southern part of libya, there had been a series of attacks near the airport. so there's no doubt that chris was well aware at the time that benghazi was less than a secure city. >> what do you think caused this attack? was it simply that anti-islamic film or is there something...
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Sep 15, 2012
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consulate in benghazi. we have cnn's most complete picture yet of the violence that night and the warnings that came days before. >> reporter: amid the ash, soot, and debris, remnants of a life that was, and what it meant to those stationed here. traces of bloodstained the walls. what is now a blackened ruin was a pleasant compound in an upscale benghazi neighborhood. libyan officials say tuesday night's attack was planned by islamist militants and quickly overwhelmed the libyan and american guards. the compound's first line of defense easily breached. according to one of the libyan guards who was stationed at the gate, armed with only a radio, the assault happened simultaneously from three different directions. he says that he initially heard chanting growing increasingly louder and then suddenly the gunfire, the rocket propelled grenades and other heavy machine gunfire all began attacking the compound. he is so terrified of repercussions that he is refusing to appear on camera. he says at one point the ma
consulate in benghazi. we have cnn's most complete picture yet of the violence that night and the warnings that came days before. >> reporter: amid the ash, soot, and debris, remnants of a life that was, and what it meant to those stationed here. traces of bloodstained the walls. what is now a blackened ruin was a pleasant compound in an upscale benghazi neighborhood. libyan officials say tuesday night's attack was planned by islamist militants and quickly overwhelmed the libyan and...
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Sep 14, 2012
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not just benghazi, libya where four americans, including the u.s. ambassador to libya were killed in the turmoil. ambassador christopher stevens, state department computer expert sean smith, former navy s.e.a.l. glen doherty, and breaking news about the fourth victim. he has now been identified, tyron woods, a former navy s.e.a.l. as well. according to knsd, woods was from the area, from imperial beach, 41 years old. his ex-wife telling the station he loved being a s.e.a.l. more than life itself. we do have late developments on an arrest today in connection with his killing, as well as the search for additional suspects. and the libyans, many of whom have expressed shock and outrage over the killings. as we said, the anti-american flames are spreading. in addition to libya and egypt, there were protests as well today in yemen, sudan, iraq, morocco, gaza. at least 11 hotspots now including israel, iran, and the cash kashmir region by india. not just contained in the arab world anymore. the most dramatic and deadly eruption happened in the capital of
not just benghazi, libya where four americans, including the u.s. ambassador to libya were killed in the turmoil. ambassador christopher stevens, state department computer expert sean smith, former navy s.e.a.l. glen doherty, and breaking news about the fourth victim. he has now been identified, tyron woods, a former navy s.e.a.l. as well. according to knsd, woods was from the area, from imperial beach, 41 years old. his ex-wife telling the station he loved being a s.e.a.l. more than life...
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Sep 12, 2012
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they are under attack by radical forces and someone in benghazi is dead. the state department says it doesn't have independent confirmation of that death. an eyewitness says that it began with an islamic radical group showing up to protest a group they called anti-muslim. the group is on consulate grounds. in cairo they were under protest with fund mentalist protesters camped out just outside the american embassy walls, outraged by the same video. they stormed the compounds and replacing them with black flags and islamic indescription on it all. embassy staffers left before the protest. a marine contingent on the grounds. and egyptian security forces nearby. cnn is on the ground in cairo and tripoli. and mona is a journalist on the phone from cairo and we have fran townsend, a cnn national security contributor and a member of the external advisory committee and she visited with libya with her employer, and i want to start with ian. you saw hundreds storming the u.s. embassy in cairo. who are these protesters exactly? how widespread is this anger? and what
they are under attack by radical forces and someone in benghazi is dead. the state department says it doesn't have independent confirmation of that death. an eyewitness says that it began with an islamic radical group showing up to protest a group they called anti-muslim. the group is on consulate grounds. in cairo they were under protest with fund mentalist protesters camped out just outside the american embassy walls, outraged by the same video. they stormed the compounds and replacing them...
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Sep 21, 2012
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when we're talking about the consulate in tripoli -- in benghazi, excuse me, officials say that in the wake -- in the leadup to this 9/11 attack, and arwa just mentioned these previous attacks and including the attack on the consulate, the state department made increased enharassments to improve security on the compound, more barriers, more cameras, additional armed guards. in addition, ambassador stevens had two armed guards in addition to three others and several militias on the compound, and what officials are saying is listen, we were adding improvements to this security based on those previous attacks which weren't very large, but they say they couldn't have foreseen, wolf, the kind of onslaught that happened on 9/11 and they don't know if they could have done anything to prevent it. >> elise, arwa, thanks very much. >>> just ahead, we show you where a new wave of anti-american protest is breaking. >>> today, cnn revealed the top ten heroes of 2012. each will receive $50,000 plus a shot at being chosen cnn hero of the year. cnn has been honoring every day heroes for six years runn
when we're talking about the consulate in tripoli -- in benghazi, excuse me, officials say that in the wake -- in the leadup to this 9/11 attack, and arwa just mentioned these previous attacks and including the attack on the consulate, the state department made increased enharassments to improve security on the compound, more barriers, more cameras, additional armed guards. in addition, ambassador stevens had two armed guards in addition to three others and several militias on the compound, and...
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Sep 12, 2012
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put benghazi on notice that he's on his way to benghazi to hunt the people of benghazi to hunt them down, house by house, street by street, alleyway by alleyway, as he put it. and then this fine -- devoted his life to this region being gunned downindeed. we don't know who is responsible. we've heard various speculation. the chairman of the house intelligence committee thinks it has some fingerprints of al qaeda or at least al qaeda-inspired affiliate operation. what do you think? >> you know, wolf, i think we have to remember that al qaeda had deep presence, actually, in libya, and we go back to the infiltration of al qaeda into iraq a while ago. a few years ago. what we learned when the americans got the documents, the computer records of the jihadists, they captured records and what they learned is the largest group of jihadists came from saudi arabia. the second largest group came from libya. so there has always been an al qaeda presence in libya. there was a presence that gadhafi occasionally used in the fashion of the dictators of the arab world. they could wink at terrorism wh
put benghazi on notice that he's on his way to benghazi to hunt the people of benghazi to hunt them down, house by house, street by street, alleyway by alleyway, as he put it. and then this fine -- devoted his life to this region being gunned downindeed. we don't know who is responsible. we've heard various speculation. the chairman of the house intelligence committee thinks it has some fingerprints of al qaeda or at least al qaeda-inspired affiliate operation. what do you think? >> you...
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Sep 30, 2012
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as a result, there was an attack as you know on the american embassy in benghazi, libya, the ambassador christopher stevens was murdered. do you condemn the attacking which caused his murder? >> translator: fundamentally, first of all, any action that is provocative offends the religious thoughts and feelings of any people we condemn. likewise, we condemn any type of extremism. of course, what took place was ugly, offending the holy prophet is quite ugly. this has very little or nothing to do with freedom and freedom of speech. this is the weakness and the abuse of freedom. and in many places it is a crime. it shouldn't take place, and i do hope that they will come in which politicians will not seek to offend those whom others hold holy or with sanctities. but we also believe that this must also be resolved in a humane atmosphere, in a participatory environment and we do not like anybody losing their lives or being killed. >> there are protesters all over the middle east now threatening the staff of american embassies, to kill them, behead them. do you think they should stop? >> transla
as a result, there was an attack as you know on the american embassy in benghazi, libya, the ambassador christopher stevens was murdered. do you condemn the attacking which caused his murder? >> translator: fundamentally, first of all, any action that is provocative offends the religious thoughts and feelings of any people we condemn. likewise, we condemn any type of extremism. of course, what took place was ugly, offending the holy prophet is quite ugly. this has very little or nothing...
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Sep 14, 2012
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you are in benghazi for us right now. what's the scene like there? >> well, everyone we have been speaking to and i literally just landed here two hours ago, is incredibly distraught of what took place. they are in utter shock and want to make clear how anguished they are over what transpired. they want the world to know, this is not libya or an action that was supported by the vast majority of libyans. this most certainly is not why they want revolution. many of them reiterated against the fact that they expect them to the united states to nato for their aid. that being said, all of them want to see their government disarm with these gangs that are roaming about with basically pure impunity. some of these gangs are remnants of the revolutionary forces that were established during the fighting that took place that has been robust to lay down their weapons for a variety of reasons. some are more extremists and they emerge from these evolution nary forces. this brings to light the sinister -- but outside of the authority of the government itself. the r
you are in benghazi for us right now. what's the scene like there? >> well, everyone we have been speaking to and i literally just landed here two hours ago, is incredibly distraught of what took place. they are in utter shock and want to make clear how anguished they are over what transpired. they want the world to know, this is not libya or an action that was supported by the vast majority of libyans. this most certainly is not why they want revolution. many of them reiterated against...
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Sep 12, 2012
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tell us about this attention that erupted in benghazi. it did not actually happen in tripoli. are you in tripoli. how are people responding to what has taken place? >> well, the situation here in tripoli does seem to be normal. people are on the streets. there seems to be nothing but the news that -- of what happened in bengazy spreading across tripoli today. most of the people i have token to, people in the capital here, are shocked and saddened by this attack. they say that it does not reflect the way libyans treat their guests. this is not the way libyans feel about the united states, and they do appreciate and do express gratitude for the rule the united states played last year as part of the nato alliance in helping the libyan people in ousting mow har gadhafi during their revolution. we are hearing also from government officials who are condemning this. they're also promising to bring those responsible to justice to have an investigation into what actually happened and who is responsible for this attack. >> i want to play a bit of sound here. this is from a libyan govern
tell us about this attention that erupted in benghazi. it did not actually happen in tripoli. are you in tripoli. how are people responding to what has taken place? >> well, the situation here in tripoli does seem to be normal. people are on the streets. there seems to be nothing but the news that -- of what happened in bengazy spreading across tripoli today. most of the people i have token to, people in the capital here, are shocked and saddened by this attack. they say that it does not...
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Sep 18, 2012
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i want to bring in arwa damon in benghazi. she's on the phone. and cnn foreign affairs reporter elise labott at the state department. arwa, first to you. you've been talking to libyan officials. what's the latest on what you're hearing about whether this attack was pre-planned or not? >> reporter: well, we're actually hearing different accounts as to whether or not that may be the fact. the country's head of the general national congress, effectively the nation's president saying that he does believe this is a pre-planned attack or rather was a pre-planned attack carried out by extremist groups possibly affiliated with or sympathetic to al qaeda. other government officials say as of now they have no indication whatsoever that this was a pre-planned attack. numerous eyewitnesses have been telling us that while the attack was taking place -- extremist militias that does in fact operate in this area with a fair degree of impunity, something that's incredibly troubling not just to libyan government but clearly now to international governments as well
i want to bring in arwa damon in benghazi. she's on the phone. and cnn foreign affairs reporter elise labott at the state department. arwa, first to you. you've been talking to libyan officials. what's the latest on what you're hearing about whether this attack was pre-planned or not? >> reporter: well, we're actually hearing different accounts as to whether or not that may be the fact. the country's head of the general national congress, effectively the nation's president saying that he...
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Sep 11, 2012
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we're looking at new video here in benghazi. what can you tell us happened? >> reporter: well, there are reports of libyan casualties as a result of these clashes at the consulate. i spoke to eye witnesses on the scene who described the situation there. libyan security forces were engaged in heavy clashes with members of an armed group, a radical militant group based in eastern libya. libyan troops were deployed to the scene. roads to the consulate were blocked. rocket-propelled grenades were fired at the consulate building. an official is telling cnn that the building is being secured by the libyan military, but we're hearing from eye witnesses in benghazi that members of the armed group had taken over the consulate building and were celebrating and looting the consulate. there's been condemnation here by regular libyans and officials and also calls on social media sites for more protests in benghazi and here in the capital tripoli. >> reporting live from tripoli tonight. thank you very much. >>> it is the 11th anniversary of the september 11 attacks, which
we're looking at new video here in benghazi. what can you tell us happened? >> reporter: well, there are reports of libyan casualties as a result of these clashes at the consulate. i spoke to eye witnesses on the scene who described the situation there. libyan security forces were engaged in heavy clashes with members of an armed group, a radical militant group based in eastern libya. libyan troops were deployed to the scene. roads to the consulate were blocked. rocket-propelled grenades...
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Sep 23, 2012
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. >> mitt romney has had a rough week because of the benghazi incident in which he was deemed by most people, including many on his own side, to have jumped in with a critical statement of the president really without knowing all the facts and turning it into a political football when most people thought that was the wrong thing to do. >> i agree. >> as an american politician at that time. >> absolutely. when our country is attacked in any way, shape or form, we need to pull together, come together, not separate at that point. i mean, you know what i would do over there? i would do what the pinnacle of the republican party, the hero, whatever of modern day, ronald reagan did. do you recall when back in the '80s the barracks in lebanon was hit and over 200 marines were killed? did ronald reagan go to war? no. he got us the hell out of there. and that's where i stand on this. if these people don't want us over there, let's close our embassies. i stand with ron paul. let's get rid of foreign aid altogether, because, as ron paul put it, the definition of "foreign aid," that's taking from
. >> mitt romney has had a rough week because of the benghazi incident in which he was deemed by most people, including many on his own side, to have jumped in with a critical statement of the president really without knowing all the facts and turning it into a political football when most people thought that was the wrong thing to do. >> i agree. >> as an american politician at that time. >> absolutely. when our country is attacked in any way, shape or form, we need to...
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they've never made it to benghazi. >> they haven't been on the ground in benghazi? >> they have not. in fact, it was taking so long to get permission to get into tripoli, the fbi deployed closer. they have conducted interviews of those in labia at the time of the attack, but not been able to get -- they've gotten as far as tripoli, but never gotten to benghazi. they made a request that the crime scene be security. as we know from arwa damon's reporting and other public reporting, the state department, we don't know whether the state department put that request to the libyans and whether it was denied. what we know for sure is the crime scene was never secured. the senior law enforcement official i spoke to said, if we get there now, it's not clear it will be of any use to us. the third and really critical and astonishing point to me that they made was, look, one of the things we have to do is question the individuals the libyans have in custody to get to the bottom of this, to understand what they're learning. in fact, they made request through the state department.
they've never made it to benghazi. >> they haven't been on the ground in benghazi? >> they have not. in fact, it was taking so long to get permission to get into tripoli, the fbi deployed closer. they have conducted interviews of those in labia at the time of the attack, but not been able to get -- they've gotten as far as tripoli, but never gotten to benghazi. they made a request that the crime scene be security. as we know from arwa damon's reporting and other public reporting,...
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Sep 15, 2012
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consulate on benghazi. he was talking about this stupid film. and he's got a history of drawing attention to these kinds of things and these have produced very violent reactions in afghanistan. so far we haven't seen that, but last year no one was paying attention to the pastor when he bernd the kuran. >> it's interesting because president morsi of egypt also in his initial statement, he didn't condemn the effort to sack the embassy in cairo, he condemned the film. it took a phone call from the president of the united states to get him to change his statements. but ben wedeman just told us, the egyptian government in public in english is different than arabic. they're going after the u.s. they're saying that, they're really going after president obama, if you will, as well. it's one thing to say something in english, another thing to say something to your own people in arabic. how should we read this? >> well, i mean, it's quite disturbing. but i think president morsi in egypt doesn't claim to be a close ally of the united states. and in fact, t
consulate on benghazi. he was talking about this stupid film. and he's got a history of drawing attention to these kinds of things and these have produced very violent reactions in afghanistan. so far we haven't seen that, but last year no one was paying attention to the pastor when he bernd the kuran. >> it's interesting because president morsi of egypt also in his initial statement, he didn't condemn the effort to sack the embassy in cairo, he condemned the film. it took a phone call...
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Sep 12, 2012
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what is the latest you heard from on the ground in benghazi? >> reporter: well, we're hearing very little from the u.s. embassy, but according to eyewitnesss, there is reports of libyan casualties as a result of these clashes. as a militant group tried to store the u.s. embassy. they succeeded and did storm the u.s. embassy. according to eyewitnesss, libyan security forces were engaged in heavy clashes with this armed group. a radical militant group based in eastern libya and fired rocket-propelled grenades at the u.s. consulate building. libyan army troops deployed. the road to the consulate blocked by military vehicles. now we have conflicting reports, and what the situation is right there. libyan government owe telling cnn that the building was being secured by libyan forces, but according to this eyewitness, members of the armed group had taken over the consulate building and were celebrating looting the consulate. there are calls on some social media sites for more protests in ben ghazi and here in tripoli. what is the latest in cairo? wha
what is the latest you heard from on the ground in benghazi? >> reporter: well, we're hearing very little from the u.s. embassy, but according to eyewitnesss, there is reports of libyan casualties as a result of these clashes. as a militant group tried to store the u.s. embassy. they succeeded and did storm the u.s. embassy. according to eyewitnesss, libyan security forces were engaged in heavy clashes with this armed group. a radical militant group based in eastern libya and fired...
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>> do you believe what took place in benghazi could have been anticipated? there are reports that there were, you know, security concerns that ambassador stevens had, that there was some activity of camps of extremists happening nearby. do you believe that the u.s. could have anticipated that the u.s. consulate would be a target? >> you know, the only responsible answer i can give you is that i don't know, and i'm not sure that anyone yet knows. it was a very volatile situation into which an extremist murderous group interjected itself, but what was the relationship between that group and the larger crowd that was gathered, i don't know. >> is it your concern that's what's bubbling up around the globe in terms of various forms of unrest that this might be a prelude to something even bigger than what we've seen already? is that your concern? >> we have have to bare in mind that we have to preserve our freedom of speech in this country. we should not be tolerant of what could be a conspiracy. a conspiracy involving multiple people with phony names or hidden id
>> do you believe what took place in benghazi could have been anticipated? there are reports that there were, you know, security concerns that ambassador stevens had, that there was some activity of camps of extremists happening nearby. do you believe that the u.s. could have anticipated that the u.s. consulate would be a target? >> you know, the only responsible answer i can give you is that i don't know, and i'm not sure that anyone yet knows. it was a very volatile situation into...
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is responsible, if it was coordinated, and if it was related at all to 9/11, and b, to the event in benghazi, libya. >> a lot of your colleagues, democrats and republicans, have said they're reconsidering supporting about $1. 5 billion a year in aid to egypt. are you amox those ready to pull the plug? >> you always have to ask yourself, is the united states and the national security better if we're gone completely or have a sphere of influence there? i do believe it ought to be leverage as we move forward and we have to get some commitments by this government that they're going to do more in sinai, less to provoke israel and make sure our u.s. embassies are protected fully by the egyptian government. it's unconscionable this could happen on their watch. so it needs to be a point of discussion. we need to be careful about starting to pull out of places that we don't understand the changes that are happening and we don't understand the intelligence and military roles yet and what this muslim brotherhood is trying to do. we should walk into that decision, not run into it. >> speaking of israel,
is responsible, if it was coordinated, and if it was related at all to 9/11, and b, to the event in benghazi, libya. >> a lot of your colleagues, democrats and republicans, have said they're reconsidering supporting about $1. 5 billion a year in aid to egypt. are you amox those ready to pull the plug? >> you always have to ask yourself, is the united states and the national security better if we're gone completely or have a sphere of influence there? i do believe it ought to be...
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consulate in benghazi. the u.s. ambassador to the u.s. and three other americans were killed last week. senior state department officials telling cnn there were a lot of concerns about a rise in islamic extremism in benghazi. a recommendation to close it never got passed up the chain of command. the obama administration saying the act was an act of terrorism. secretary of state, hillary clinton, assigning a panel to investigate how it happened. >> there are obviously very real challenges in these new democracies, these fragile societies. as i said last week, the vast majority of the people in these countries did not throw off the tyranny of a dictator to trade it for the tyranny of a mob. >> sources told cnn ambassador stevens mentioned being on a hit list weeks before he died. secretary clinton doesn't believe there's a basis for the reports. >>> president obama sent in 30,000 additional troops to neutralize a taliban resurgent. the last of the troops have now shipped out. 68,000 u.s. personnel are still stationed. >>> election day less
consulate in benghazi. the u.s. ambassador to the u.s. and three other americans were killed last week. senior state department officials telling cnn there were a lot of concerns about a rise in islamic extremism in benghazi. a recommendation to close it never got passed up the chain of command. the obama administration saying the act was an act of terrorism. secretary of state, hillary clinton, assigning a panel to investigate how it happened. >> there are obviously very real challenges...
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Sep 22, 2012
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glen doherty and tyrone woods both former navy s.e.a.l.s were in benghazi working security. sources tell cnn doherty and woods were in another part of the city when they got word the consulate was under attack. the men went to the consulate, rounded up the staff and then recovered the body of the first victim, sean smith. military officials say it was during a second, more intense attack that doherty and woods were killed. >>> one of mitt romney's former rivals is giving him some interesting advice about the upcoming debates. hmm, it says here that cheerios helps lower cholesterol as part of a heart healthy diet. that's true. ...but you still have to go to the gym. ♪ the one and only, cheerios ...but you still have to go to the gym. see life in the best light. [music] transitions® lenses automatically filter just the right amount of light. so you see everything the way it's meant to be seen. experience life well lit, ask for transitions adaptive lenses. nothing complicated about a pair of 10 inch hose clamp pliers. you know what's complicated? shipping. shipping's complic
glen doherty and tyrone woods both former navy s.e.a.l.s were in benghazi working security. sources tell cnn doherty and woods were in another part of the city when they got word the consulate was under attack. the men went to the consulate, rounded up the staff and then recovered the body of the first victim, sean smith. military officials say it was during a second, more intense attack that doherty and woods were killed. >>> one of mitt romney's former rivals is giving him some...
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Sep 28, 2012
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consulate in benghazi. 2 1/2 weeks ago that killed four americans as you know including chris stevens, the american ambassador to libya. defense secretary leon panetta said yesterday that it took some time to gather feedback on exactly what took place there. and there are still many unanswered questions that need to be resolved. >> what terrorists were involved, i think, still remains to be determined by the investigation. but it clearly was a group of terrorists who conducted that attack against that facility. >> the fbi is investigating the attack but agents are not yet sure -- not yet on the ground in benghazi due to concerns about security, which is ongoing there. they're still in tripoli. and sources tell cnn that the consulate site remains unsecured, as well. meanwhile, staff is being removed from the u.s. embassy in tripoli due to security reasons. >>> there's this major development. the men who made that anti-muslim film that ignited protests across the muslim world, he's in custody in los angeles this morning. but authorities claim it had nothing to do with the movie. he was
consulate in benghazi. 2 1/2 weeks ago that killed four americans as you know including chris stevens, the american ambassador to libya. defense secretary leon panetta said yesterday that it took some time to gather feedback on exactly what took place there. and there are still many unanswered questions that need to be resolved. >> what terrorists were involved, i think, still remains to be determined by the investigation. but it clearly was a group of terrorists who conducted that attack...
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Sep 25, 2012
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consulate in benghazi did not meet standard u.s. consulate security requirements. this is obviously a rather damning thing to be discovering at this point, considering what ended up happening there. jon huntsman told me he thinks consulates there who are not beefed up on security, shouldn't the administration be responding to that? >> i think the administration is responding to it. the state department goes to regular security procedures all over the world and updates them to take into account how the situation on the ground changes. i spent a lot of time in iraq and as we were transitioning from our military presence there to the state department presence there, we looked very closely at the security procedures at our con sue lates and embassies. so i expect in the aftermath of these incidents, there will be another review and steps will be taken to improve security where needed. >> let's talk about libya and the mixed messages. it still seems confusing to me. on the 16th of september, our ambassador called the attacks spontaneous. jay carney agreed with that. the
consulate in benghazi did not meet standard u.s. consulate security requirements. this is obviously a rather damning thing to be discovering at this point, considering what ended up happening there. jon huntsman told me he thinks consulates there who are not beefed up on security, shouldn't the administration be responding to that? >> i think the administration is responding to it. the state department goes to regular security procedures all over the world and updates them to take into...
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i condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in benghazi today. our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. but let me be clear there is never any justification for violent attacks of this kind pf clinton's statement does not sympathize. anybody that tells you it did is lying. if you believe it did, you are misguided. even a statement released earlier from the embassy in cairo did not sympathize or apologize, and instead of correcting course, the romney campaign doubled down. >> it's a terrible course for america to stand in an apologize. >> they even contacted us, the media, to make thier surrogates available to us and then proceeded to come on the air and blame the media and bash them for their own mistake. >> i gave you plenty of time and i asked you the question the first time, and then you went on and gave me three points. >> you are saying it could not wait, yes or no, it couldn't wait? >> that's a silly question. >> there are no silly questions, mr. ambassador. here is why. in an effort to politicize
i condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in benghazi today. our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. but let me be clear there is never any justification for violent attacks of this kind pf clinton's statement does not sympathize. anybody that tells you it did is lying. if you believe it did, you are misguided. even a statement released earlier from the embassy in cairo did not sympathize or apologize, and instead of correcting...
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Sep 28, 2012
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investigators try to figure out who is responsible for the attack in benghazi that killed the u.s. ambassador. a film maker hated by millions because of his anti-islam film is in jail. not because of the movie. really. the jimmy hoffa mystery solved? this is a live look at the suburban detroit home where investigators are digging right now. more from the scene in a bit. >>> get your flag pins and sense of pride. we're talking economic patriotism on the campaign trail. newsroom starts now. >>> good morning. happy friday to you. i am carol costello. we begin this hour, new intrigue in one of the most iconic crime mysteries in u.s. history. police in the detroit suburb of roseville may be breaking new ground in the 1975 disappearance of the former union boss jimmy hoffa. minutes ago crews began drilling a core sample from what used to be a driveway. they say a credible tip alerted them to a possible burial just around the time hoffa vanished. susan candiotti is in the neighborhood. i know, susan, you have been down this road before. >> reporter: i have. we were back here in 2006 when
investigators try to figure out who is responsible for the attack in benghazi that killed the u.s. ambassador. a film maker hated by millions because of his anti-islam film is in jail. not because of the movie. really. the jimmy hoffa mystery solved? this is a live look at the suburban detroit home where investigators are digging right now. more from the scene in a bit. >>> get your flag pins and sense of pride. we're talking economic patriotism on the campaign trail. newsroom starts...
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Sep 21, 2012
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the fact that the ambassador was not in tripoli, he was in benghazi, that visit was supposed to be confidential. they knew where the safe house was. put all of those things together and the notion that this was somehow due to some film is ridiculous. of course it was a terrorist attack. >> the name that's been floating around of this supposed ring leader, the guy who is supposed to have been released from guantanamo bay in 2007, that would have been on your watch. are you familiar with him? do you remember him? would you have been aware of -- >> no. also, the justice department had zero to do with guantanamo and i don't know whether it was now today or not. >> i wouldn't even have been aware of him being released? >> no, he was in custody of the defense department. but the fact is that the alumni of guantanamo have resurfaced, whether it was during the bush administration or the current administration at an alarming rate. the recidivism rate is upwards of 20% and that's the people we know about, because they have either been killed or captured again. god knows how many of them are out there fig
the fact that the ambassador was not in tripoli, he was in benghazi, that visit was supposed to be confidential. they knew where the safe house was. put all of those things together and the notion that this was somehow due to some film is ridiculous. of course it was a terrorist attack. >> the name that's been floating around of this supposed ring leader, the guy who is supposed to have been released from guantanamo bay in 2007, that would have been on your watch. are you familiar with...
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Sep 26, 2012
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>>> congressional republicans are demander more information about the attack in benghazi that killed ambassador christopher stevens and aides. joining us now to talk about the investigation is former fine assistant director and cnn contributor fom fuentes. tom, i want to read you just part of this letter. part of it says "decades after al qaeda attacked our embassies in east africa which catalyzed a series of events which led to the attacks on 9/11, it appears they executed a highly coordinated and well-planned attack against us again. clearly the threat from al qaeda and affiliated groups has metastasized, yet we do not appear to be learning from the past." now, you were at the fbi in 1998. what do you make of that? are we not learning the lesson from the past? >> frankly i think that's ridiculous. we've learned a lot from those lessons. but there's a much different situation here in libya than there was in kenya and tanzania in 1998. >> how so? >> you don't have a developed government for one thing. >> libyan government. >> the libyan government that doesn't have the robust law enf
>>> congressional republicans are demander more information about the attack in benghazi that killed ambassador christopher stevens and aides. joining us now to talk about the investigation is former fine assistant director and cnn contributor fom fuentes. tom, i want to read you just part of this letter. part of it says "decades after al qaeda attacked our embassies in east africa which catalyzed a series of events which led to the attacks on 9/11, it appears they executed a...
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. >>> fbi agents have not yet been allowed into the libyan city of benghazi. sources tell cnn that the crime scene on the consulate grounds has not been secured. sources also tell cnn that the u.s. intelligence community knew within 24 hours of the attack that it was an act of terrorism. yet the obama administration was cautious in saying so and has only started to acknowledge a terrorist link to the attack. this was in the last few days. on "360" last night, bob baer was asked specifically about that. >> i think it's political. i think the white house is reluctant to admit that libya has been lost or potentially lost. no administration wants to admit that. i think, frankly, we can't blame losing libya on this administration. you know, it was in the works for a long time. there wasn't much it could do. nonetheless we have an election coming up and no one wants to take blame for messing up the arab spring. >> the u.s. ambassador to libya, chris stevens was wrong those killed in that attacks. >>> mitt romney and president obama will both be campaigning in virgin
. >>> fbi agents have not yet been allowed into the libyan city of benghazi. sources tell cnn that the crime scene on the consulate grounds has not been secured. sources also tell cnn that the u.s. intelligence community knew within 24 hours of the attack that it was an act of terrorism. yet the obama administration was cautious in saying so and has only started to acknowledge a terrorist link to the attack. this was in the last few days. on "360" last night, bob baer was...
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Sep 11, 2012
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consulate in benghazi, libya. we're just getting this information coming in. we know there was also an attack on the u.s. embassy today. this, the 11th anniversary of 9/11 on the u.s. embassy and cairo, as well. erin burnett "outfront" will have moch much more at the top of the hour. >>> few politicians are more closely associated with 9/11 than rudy guiliani. after the attacks, the former new york city mayor became known as america's mayor as he helped lead the nation forward. you've described 9/11 as both the worst day and the best day. explain why you said that. >> the worst day, because it was the worst attack, domestic attack in the history of my c country, or you have to go back to the revolution and the war of 1812 and civil war to look for similar kinds of things. certainly, new york city. and at the same time, it was a day of more heroism, more
consulate in benghazi, libya. we're just getting this information coming in. we know there was also an attack on the u.s. embassy today. this, the 11th anniversary of 9/11 on the u.s. embassy and cairo, as well. erin burnett "outfront" will have moch much more at the top of the hour. >>> few politicians are more closely associated with 9/11 than rudy guiliani. after the attacks, the former new york city mayor became known as america's mayor as he helped lead the nation...